Renovation solutions for educational facilities

School renovations are often about improving physical or safety conditions or updating the technological infrastructure for the purpose of enhancing academic performances. When the safety and wellbeing of the pupils is on the table, the HVAC system should also be considered in the scope of a school renovation. After all, a comfortable temperature and sufficient ventilation have been shown to have a positive effect on the students’ health and learning rate.

A school renovation solution needs to meet the particular requirements inherent to any school building. Ideally, it should include both heating and cooling and operate quietly so as not to disturb the students. Moreover, it needs to be energy efficient in order to keep the school’s operating costs in check. The right emitters combined with fast and reliable controls will ensure the best system response to the particular use in schools, with high, rapidly changing heat demands on weekdays and unused rooms at night and on weekends.

Low Surface Temperature (LST) radiators are still a popular choice for heating in schools, to meet NHS Estates Health Guidance Notes and the Education (School Premises) Regulations. Classic panel radiators and column radiators are also a popular choice because they ensure a fast reaction to the varying heat demands. In renovated schools that switch to a low temperature heating system it is important that when the heat source is updated, the radiators are also reviewed to ensure they are able to provide sufficient heat. Fan convectors and radiant heating, like underfloor heating, are also becoming more popular as they free up wall space.

While sufficient heating is essential in a school to guarantee the students’ comfort, it is also important to be able to cool. The heat load generated by all the people present in a classroom in combination with the direct solar radiation coming in through the windows can really drive up the temperature. Although window ventilation can offer some cooling, it’s better to also have a cooling system. For example, iVector S2 is a good solution because it offers both heating and cooling. The units are whisper quiet and can be mounted on or in the ceiling or wall.

Finding suitable technical solutions for the renovation of an old school building is not always easy. The outdated architecture doesn’t meet today’s requirements, which means a custom solution needs to be sought. Our team of HVAC specialists is happy to help you design and plan a fitting solution that incorporates all the best heating and cooling products for your project. Don’t hesitate to contact us for tailored advice.